Bollywood's BR Chopra dies, aged 94

Bollywood filmmaker BR Chopra, whose career spanned five decades, has died aged 94.

The veteran producer's publicist Peter Martis told Reuters that he had battled a long illness and was surrounded by his family when he died.

Chopra directed 1957 classic Naya Daur and produced acclaimed films including Waqt and The Burning Train.

He was best known for injecting socially relevant themes into his movies while still meeting populist tastes. He won the Dadasaheb Phalke award, the highest gong in Indian cinema, and also brought Hindu epic Mahabharat to television.

Actor Dilip Kumar, who starred in Naya Daur, spoke of Chopra's "warm and affectionate nature", saying: "The unit used to be in awe of him because he was a man of letters, but he was accessible and attentive to even a spot boy."

Chopra is survived by son Ravi Chopra, also a filmmaker, and two daughters.